Monday, April 20, 2009

Assignment #13

Hello E7A,

Over the past few classes, we've talked about the causes and events of the War of 1812. Your next assignment is to think about all that you've learned and respond.

Using the information you have about the War of 1812, respond to the following questions (should be about a page in length, either handwritten, computer typed or on your blog).

Who won the War of 1812? Why do you think that?
Is there always a winner in a war? Why or why not?

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Assignment #12 - Prepare for Class Discussion

Students in E7B,

Next Day 4, we will be having a class discussion about two topics: The Loyalist refugees and the War of 1812. Your task is to research the following questions. You do not have to write anything on your blog, but you will be marked on your participation in our class discussion. This is your chance to prepare.

Read over these questions and research the topics. Make jot notes, either on paper or on a new blog post. Your jot notes will help you in our class discussion.

-How did the influx of Loyalist refugees change things in Canada?
-What were some of the causes (the reasons that it started) of the War of 1812?
-What were some of the effects (the things that happened because of) of the War of 1812?
-What would life for a Canadian look like, feel like and be like at this time in our history? (1775 - American Revolution started, 1783-1784 - approx. 50 000 Loyalists migrated to Canada, 1812-1815 - War of 1812) (Social life, material life, working life, institutions)

Assignment #11 - URGENT

Ladies and gentlemen,

Please check out this website and hand in a hand-written single spaced 12-page report about it by tomorrow at 7 a.m.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

E7/8 - Today we Live Blog


Good morning, E7/8,

Today we'll be live blogging. That means that we'll all be working on our blogs simultaneously while we are sitting here in the Lab.

I don't mind if you work with a partner today so long as the two of you stay on task. I reserve the right to split you up if I feel you are not on task.

I've listened carefully and thought a lot about what you said about blogging, and I'll be making some changes.

Today, for example, you are going to do some research and you won't be marked on the finish product, but you will be marked on your process of gathering information and then participating in our class discussion.

Your job today is to look at the questions at the bottom of this post and figure out some ways to answer them so that when we have a class discussion about these topics next class, you will be well prepared.

Please let us know if you find any particularly wonderful sites.

In answering the questions, you may use full sentences or jot notes, your choice. As you publish answers, let me know so that I can link to you. Hopefully this will enable us to get an online discussion going. Post anything that you find interesting - links, information...

None of these questions have simple answers. They all have complex, involved answers. Try to give yourself a bit of an overview of some of the issues involved. You will do research to find some answers, you can talk with your partner and you will use your own inferencing skills to come up with some answers to the following:

Grade 7s
-How did the influx of Loyalist refugees change things in Canada?
-What were some of the causes (the reasons that it started) of the War of 1812?
-What were some of the effects (the things that happened because of) of the War of 1812?
-What would life for a Canadian look like, feel like and be like at this time in our history? (1775 - American Revolution started, 1783-1784 - approx. 50 000 Loyalists migrated to Canada)


Grade 8s
-How did the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway change Canada? -What were some of the causes of the Red River Rebellion?
-What were some of the effects of the Red River Rebellion?
-What would life for a Canadian look like, feel like and be like at this time in our history? (1881-1885 - construction of the CPR, 1869 - Red River Rebellion)

Monday, March 30, 2009

Adrily Has Done it Again


The incredible Adria and Emily in E7/8 have made another hilarious and informative video. They made great use of 18th Century slang. Their bunny joke is a highlight.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

A Loyalist/Patriot Game



Santana the Magnificent has found an amazingly cool game where you work your way through different tasks and questions and determine whether you would have been a Patriot or a Loyalist living during the American Revolution.

Let me know if you've played the game and what the outcome was!

Want Some Bonus Marks? - Special thanks to Santana!


Santana continues her wonderful 'net research skills. She has found all kinds of exciting sites, including the following:

#1. An article about Black Loyalists.
#2. Many articles from different points of view in America about the American Revolution.
#3. Some American heroes of the American Revolution. How do you think the Loyalists saw these people? What about the British North Americans?
#4. An article from the American point of view describing the causes and effects of the American Revolution.
#5. I haven't played a lot on this one yet, but it's pretty neat - HistoryWorld. If you check this one out, let me know what great features it has!

For some bonus marks, you can check out these sites and write a review on your own blog, linking others to them. As always, if you do a bonus assignment, send a comment my way so that I know to check it out!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Mapping Your Way through History


Santana (my #1 Internet researcher) has found yet another amazing site. Canadian Geographic hosts all kinds of capital ("cool" from the 18th century) sources, including Historical Maps.

The site is super, duper awesome. You pick a year and you are shown a map of Canada from that time. There are really clear legends and a description of important events PLUS bonus facts. As well, there are many wonderful links in each description. This is a great place to start your research for ANY Canadian History topic. Amazing.

As well, you can click on a link on the right-hand side of the page to do a Canada Quiz. This is a great, comprehensive quiz. There are questions that go along with each map and chunk of information. As well, unlike some not so great Internet quizzes, the answers are available to you after you've completed the questions. That means you can actually learn from your mistakes (the best reason to MAKE mistakes!).

I strongly suggest you check out this site. We certainly will be using it as a class in the future.

Change of Schedule - Day 4

 
Hello students in E7A, E7B and E7/8,

Starting the week we come back from March Break, we will be blogging in the Lab two times (instead of three times) a cycle. On Day 4, you will need to bring a notebook or a binder with you to my classroom. We will meet outside my room and go over what we'll be working on for the next little bit.

From now on, Day 4 classes take part in my classroom - Room 108!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Will Life Be Worth Living in 2000?


I found a hilarious article from 1961 that predicts the future.  The writer feels that there will be a lot of change and that all those changes won't be wonderful.  It reminds me of the work you've done in predicting the history of the future.